I'm so sorry for your loss. Going through this while grieving is incredibly difficult, and you're being very wise to research everything thoroughly before making decisions. I wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you do finally get through to SSA (whether through traditional phone lines or services like Claimyr that others mentioned), ask specifically about "protective filing." This allows you to establish an intent to file date while you're still gathering information and making your final decision. It can protect you from losing any potential back benefits if you decide to claim retroactively later. Also, since you mentioned making $68k annually and are concerned about the earnings test, consider whether your income varies significantly by month or if you have any control over the timing of bonuses, commissions, or other variable income. In the year you reach FRA, strategic timing of when you receive certain income could help you stay under the $59,520 limit for the months before your FRA. One more practical tip: if you have access to your late husband's Social Security statement or know his earnings history, you might be able to get a rough estimate of your survivor benefit amount using online calculators before speaking with SSA. This can help you verify whether the amounts they quote you are in the right ballpark. The strategy others outlined (survivor benefits at FRA, then switching to your own at 70) does sound promising based on your situation, but definitely get those exact numbers confirmed in writing before proceeding.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Having navigated this myself when my spouse passed, I wanted to share a few additional considerations that might help with your planning. Since you're making $68k annually and planning to continue working, one thing to consider is how your survivor benefit amount might affect your overall tax bracket and retirement savings strategy. If taking survivor benefits at FRA allows you to reduce or redirect your current retirement contributions (401k, IRA, etc.) while still maintaining your lifestyle, you might be able to optimize your tax situation over the long term. Also, I noticed you mentioned your husband passed last year - depending on when exactly that was, you might have some timing flexibility for when you want to start survivor benefits. There's no requirement to start them immediately at FRA if waiting a few months works better with your work schedule or other life circumstances (though they don't grow with delayed credits like your own retirement benefits would). One more thing about the earnings test that I learned the hard way - if you have any consulting income, rental property, or other "self-employment" income alongside your W-2 job, make sure you understand how ALL of your earnings count toward those limits. The SSA counts more than just your regular salary when applying the earnings test. The community here has given you excellent advice about documenting everything and getting multiple opinions. Trust your instincts - if something doesn't sound right, keep asking until you get consistent answers from SSA representatives.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share a resource that might be particularly relevant for your situation with Medicaid waiver payments. I recently helped my aunt navigate a similar issue where she was receiving payments as a family caregiver, and we discovered that the Social Security Administration has a specific internal manual section (POMS DI 10505.010) that addresses how various state Medicaid waiver payments are treated for SSI and SSDI purposes. While this is more technical than some of the other resources mentioned, it could be helpful to reference when you're speaking with SSA representatives to ensure they're applying the correct policy. Also, given all the excellent advice in this thread about timing and coordination, I wanted to mention that you might want to ask about "month of entitlement" rules when you speak with SSA or your Benefits Counselor. These rules determine exactly when your retirement benefits would begin and could affect the timing of when your daughter might be eligible to switch to DAC benefits if that turns out to be advantageous. One practical tip from our experience - when you do apply, consider asking the SSA representative to annotate your file with notes about the Medicaid waiver payment exclusion and any references to the POMS sections people have mentioned. This can help prevent confusion if different representatives handle your case during processing. This thread has been incredibly informative - it's amazing how supportive and knowledgeable this community is. Best of luck with your decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to thank everyone for creating such an incredibly comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm currently in my early 60s and dealing with some similar benefit coordination questions for my disabled adult son, so reading through all of these responses has been tremendously educational. One additional resource I wanted to mention that might be helpful - the National Academy of Social Insurance has some excellent publications that explain Social Security benefit interactions in plain language. Their "Social Security Brief" series includes documents specifically about family benefits and earnings tests that could complement all the great technical references people have shared here. Also, based on everything I've read about the importance of timing and documentation, you might want to consider creating a simple checklist of all the steps you need to take based on this thread - things like contacting Kentucky DAIL, gathering the POMS references, setting up consultations with advisors, etc. Having a concrete action plan can help ensure you don't miss any of the valuable suggestions people have made. Your situation really highlights how complex these benefit interactions can be, but also shows what an amazing resource this community is for people navigating these challenges. The generosity of everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences has created an incredible roadmap for you. Best of luck with your decision-making process!

After reading through all the comments, here's a summary for you: 1. Yes, you qualify for ex-spouse survivor benefits at 60 (must stay unmarried) 2. Taking benefits at 60 = about 71.5% of what you'd get at full retirement age 3. Watch out for the earnings test if you're working 4. Bring death certificate, marriage certificate, and divorce decree when you apply 5. You can switch to your own benefit later if it would be higher 6. You cannot apply for survivor benefits online - must call or visit in person Hope this helps!

I'm so glad you found this community! Your situation is actually pretty common and yes, you should definitely be eligible for survivor benefits from your ex-husband. Since you were married for 18 years (way more than the 10-year requirement), you meet the duration test. A few things to keep in mind as you move forward: - You'll need to remain unmarried to keep receiving these benefits - The SSA will calculate his benefit based on what he would have received at full retirement age, not what he actually received (since he hadn't claimed yet) - If you claim at 60, you'll get a reduced amount, but you can always switch to your own retirement benefit later if yours ends up being higher The paperwork everyone mentioned is crucial - definitely have all your documents ready before you call. And don't get discouraged if the first person you talk to seems confused about ex-spouse survivor benefits - sometimes you need to ask for a supervisor who specializes in survivor benefits. Good luck with your application! This benefit can really make a difference for people in your situation.

Just wanted to add - when you report your estimated earnings to SSA, try to be as accurate as possible. I made the mistake of underestimating my income when I went back to work at 64, and then had to deal with a mess at tax time. SSA will withhold based on your estimate, but if you earn significantly more than projected, you could end up with an overpayment that needs to be resolved. Also, keep good records of when you start the job and your actual earnings - it'll make things much smoother when they do the annual reconciliation. The earnings test can be confusing but it's really not that bad once you understand how it works!

One thing to keep in mind - if you do decide to let SSA reduce your benefits through the earnings test, they typically withhold your entire monthly check once you go over the limit, rather than reducing it proportionally. So you might not receive ANY Social Security payments for several months while you're working full-time. Just want you to be prepared for that cash flow impact! Also, since you mentioned chronic back pain from your warehouse job, make sure the new office position has good ergonomics and won't aggravate your condition. The last thing you want is to end up back where you started health-wise. Good luck with the new opportunity!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now and your post really helped me understand that I'm not alone in this confusion! After reading through all these responses, I think I finally have a clear picture of what's happening. Like many others here, I've gotten completely different answers from SSA phone reps about whether COLA adjustments are included in spousal benefit calculations. It's incredibly frustrating when you're trying to plan your retirement and can't get consistent information from the agency itself. Based on everyone's experiences shared here, it's clear that YES - your spousal benefit should definitely be calculated using your husband's current PIA with ALL the COLA adjustments applied since his 2021 FRA. Your $175 monthly difference calculation sounds very realistic given what others have reported with similar timeframes. I'm planning to follow the advice that multiple people have given: visit my local SSA office in person with my spouse's benefit statements and use the specific phrase "current PIA with all COLA adjustments applied since FRA." It seems like the in-person representatives are much more knowledgeable than the phone staff. One thing I've learned from reading this thread is how important it is to get written documentation of whatever calculation they give you. Too many people have experienced getting different numbers each time they call. Thanks for starting this discussion - it's been incredibly valuable for those of us navigating this confusing system!

I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through the appeals process for a similar COLA-related miscalculation. After months of getting inconsistent information from phone reps, I discovered that SSA had been using my spouse's original 2020 PIA instead of the COLA-adjusted amount for my spousal benefit calculation. The difference was substantial - about $180 per month, very similar to your $175 calculation. What really helped my case was that I had kept detailed records of all the COLA percentages and had calculated the correct amount myself beforehand. When I finally got to speak with a supervisor at my local office, she acknowledged the error immediately and explained that this type of mistake happens more often than it should, especially when representatives are rushing through calculations or using outdated information in their systems. My advice based on this experience: Don't just get the correct calculation - also ask them to review any previous estimates or applications you may have submitted to make sure they're using the right PIA. If you've already applied or received preliminary estimates based on the wrong number, you may need to request a formal review or correction. The good news is that once it's corrected, they can backdate any adjustments. But it's definitely worth double-checking everything given how common these errors seem to be. Your persistence in questioning the calculations could save you thousands of dollars over the course of your retirement!